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 USN August 18, 1943 |
Location Nassau Bay is located on the north coast of New Guinea inside Huon Gulf. The southern end of Nassau Bay is formed by Cape Dingo and the mouth of the Tabali River. To the north is the mouth of the Bitoi River and Buyawim River and beyond Tambu Bay and Salamaua. Prewar and during the Pacific War located in the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History On June 30, 1943 an American invasion force including 3 PT Boats, 29 LCVP landing craft, 1 LCV and two captured Japanese barges under the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade lands the U.S. Army, 41st Infantry Division (41st ID), 162nd Infantry Regiment (162nd IR) "MacKechnie Force" at Nassau Bay without opposition and established a beachhead but 18 landing craft were wrecked by pounding surf. Ashore, the soldiers push north towards the Bitoi River and south towards Tabali Creek. Overnight, troops make contact with enemy forces in the Cape Dinga area south of Nassau Bay. On July 1, 1943 overnight, small groups of Japanese soldiers in the Cape Dinga area engage the Americans in confused skirmishes during a tropical rainstorm then withdraw into the jungle. Afterwards, 50 Japanese dead were found while U.S. forces lost 18 killed and 27 wounded. That same day, the Australian Army 2/6th Battalion the eastern most company in their advance reached the north coast along the southern arm of the Bitoi River and drove away a company of Japanese soldiers. On July 2, 1943 in the morning of their third day ashore, the American force remained clustered around the beach and made contact with the Australian Army 17th Brigade. In the afternoon, one company advanced to the Bitoi River. On July 3, 1943 four 75mm howitzers were landed to provide artillery support plus reinforcements including the 3rd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment. By July 4, 1943 more than 1,400 personnel were ashore. On July 9, 1943 Papuan soldiers advancing ahead of the 162nd Regiment reached Lake Salus on July 9, 1943 then continued northwest towards Tambu Bay. American missions against Nassau Bay April 22, 1943–July 12, 1943 CAC Boomerang Serial Number A46-88 Pilot Collier Shot down by US Navy anti-aircraft fire July 5, 1943 F-4 Lightning 41-2177 Tail 77 Pilot Blackard MIA May 21, 1943 crashed in the vicinity of Nassau Bay References U.S. Army in World War II - Cartwheel: The Reduction of Rabaul Chapter V pages 49, 54, 59-66, 61 (map) The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II New Guinea pages 8, 9, 14, 17 Put 'em Across: A History of the 2d Engineer Special Brigade, 1942-1945 (1946) page 37 , 38 (artwork), 39-40 (Page 37) "As dusk fell over the operational staging area above Morobe on the night of 29 June 1943, a task force of infantry from the 41st Division loaded into all the available 532d barges; namely 29 LCVPs and tow captured Jap barges, and set out for a landing behind the Jap lines at Nassau Bay only a few miles below Salamaua. Never before in the Southwest Pacific had the Allied attempted a landing behind Jap lines. These men were pioneers in amphibious warfare." Contribute
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 Map 1943 |
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